[STORY] The Golden Years Return for Spurs (or, If it ain't Dutch...)

[Redknapp69]

Amazing stuff and what a way to end a story!

Neymar at LB

No surprise another red card helps you - I'm sure you bribed the refs in this story!

Delighted for Suarez getting a goal as well

And Lloris again standout!

Well done manager 'Sungo'

Early shout for another HOF for me

[samsami]

Thank you!

It was a close call - and no bribes paid, I can assure you

[ebfatz]

Congratulations! Knew Suarez would have an involvement somewhere and should have known there'd be a red card mixed in.

Jose Enrique starting for Barcelona is hilarious!

[Psmith]

"WE DID IT !!"
(with a little help from the ref...)



While FC Barcelona - with Neymar in the starting lineup - seemed keen to get the early goal it was none other than Luis Suárez who found the net after just five minutes!! And he did it all by himself, too! First he brought the ball forward with Fontàs in pursuit. Then he took on José Enrique who could not stop Suárez going past him and with a ferocious left-footed strike he scored that all-important opening goal against his former club!

Immediately there was more pressure from Barcelona! Of course they were far from beaten and they created some decent chances causing Boateng to receive a yellow card after he tripped Halilovoc in an attempt to stop him. And sure enough, Barcelona's pressure resulted in the equaliser when Mascherano (who played instead of Busquets!) took the ball into the area and found Neymar who scored with a simple finish!

And Neymar almost scored again when he broke the offside trap a few minutes later and was clean through on goal! He sent the ball flying toward goal, but Lloris did brilliantly to get his fingertips to the ball!

Minutes later at the other end Suárez attempted to hit the ball low on his left foot, but ter Stegen pushed it away superbly! It was an exciting battle and it was clear to all that there would probably be more goals very soon!

Then, just before half time the ref came to our aid! Aurtenetxe upended Lewandowski and the referee reached into his pocket and pulled out a red card for him!! It seemed a harsh decision, but the referee never hesitated.



Remarkably, Luis Enrique decided to have Neymar play as left defender now, rather than sacrificing a striker to bring on another left defender.



In the second half we brought on Pasalic for Boateng, who had received that early yellow card. However, within five minutes Pasalic was also shown a yellow card! He played well enough, though, and he certainly deserved this opportunity to play in the Champions League Final!

After Strootman had also received a yellow card we brought on Stambouli to replace him. That is to say, we had Stambouli play as central defensive midfielder while Clasie moved up to replace Strootman as central midfielder.

Still, even with ten men FC Barcelona almost managed to score when Iniesta took control of the ball and hit it high and hard toward goal, but once again Lloris managed to push the ball away!

With twenty minutes on the clock we brought on De Vrij for Vertonghen, who was obviously struggling. It was a daring move as this was our third substitution and there was a reasonable chance that the game would go into extra time, but we had no other choice.

And then, four minutes later it happened!! Eriksen put a low cross into the near post, Clasie moved unto the ball and blasted it towards the top corner and found the back of the net!! It was an amazing and unforgettable moment! And while our fans were lapping it up, the Barcelona fans were left stunned.



And this time FC Barcelona were really beaten! With ten exhausted men they simply lacked the strength to bounce back a second time and they barely created one decent chance in those last fifteen minutes. So when the referee finally blew the whistle we knew that we had won that most coveted trophy of all, the Champions League!!



Perhaps we were a bit lucky, but it was one fascinating match! We played well as a team, Lloris was very important again, but it was Suárez who was simply superb against his former club!

Spoiler!

And not only the fans were delighted, but the Board was obviously thrilled as well!

Anyone else read this while listening to the Champions League anthem on youtube?

Congratulations Samsami! Great goal by Suarez to open the deadlock, it was him against the world in that move.

[Mark]

You did it! You actually did it!

Really chuffed that you managed to get it as if you were getting bored of the story then this is the best way to bow out.

What a story, what a journey.

Congratulations

[kuy]

The Golden Years truly have returned - and then some! Great achievement, and great story too. What a way to finish it!

[samsami]

Looking back

In these past five years we have won a total of five trophies (not counting the 2018 Charity Shield).




In the very first year we won the UEFA Cup already! That gave us the impression success would come easily, but we found out soon how mistaken we were!






The second year we were left empty-handed. But in the third year we succeeded in winning the FA Cup!




In the fourth and fifth season we finally won the Premier League!




The League Cup is one trophy we never managed to win, though.




And in the fifth year we won the Champions League!!




Our biggest win was the away match against Manchester City in January 2019.




Our biggest loss was the very next month against Man Utd in the League Cup Semi Final 2nd Leg. That humiliation also shattered our dream of finally winning the League Cup.




The most bizarre match was in April of that same year against Chelsea in the Champions League Quarter Final 2nd Leg.




Our top rated players have been the following ones.




These have been our club's top goalscorers:

[Mark]

2019 was a crazy year. 5 big trophies that you'd won as well

[samsami]

2019 was a crazy year. 5 big trophies that you'd won as well

Of my 5 years with Feyenoord and 5 years with Spurs that second part of the 2018-2019 season with Spurs was by far the most bizarre part!

[JayFlo]

Massive effort! Well played, sir!

Is this definitely the end then?

[samsami]

Massive effort! Well played, sir!
Is this definitely the end then?

Yes it is. Or you could call it part two of the trilogy!

[samsami]

Any suggestions for Part Three of the Trilogy, anyone?

I am tempted to return to Feyenoord

But if anyone has a better suggestion.....

[Redknapp69]

Dutch National team story after failure to qualify for Euro's

Or are you looking to do a club story?

[samsami]

It's Saints next!

[samsami]

Just read through the last three pages having demolished the first 27 whilst at work this week!
I tend to read the forum at work and contribute myself when at home as we're not allowed to log in to things at work!
As a Saints fan it's been doubly interesting with your Dutch influences. Happy with the Clasie signing here and IRL
Was intrigued to see Sam Gallagher at your team though because I can tell you he's been toilet up until now IRL. He had a good youth cup this season and scored a screamer in the final but hasn't been much for U21s/First team when given the chance.

Thanks!
Yes, Clasie was important in my Feyenoord story (now in the Hall of Fame) as well. I sincerely hope he will be just as important for you IRL! And of course I hope to see Clasie return to Feyenoord some time.

Added 10th August 2018:

And it actually happened!